Bowiri-Kwamekrom, May 2, GNA - Dr Winfred Ofosu, Jasikan District Director of Ghana Health Service (GHS), on Saturday said the district with a population of 117,150 people had recorded a total of 17,993 malaria cases last year.

He said: "if this figure apply to only those who attended hospitals, then the situation is alarming" adding that the death rate for children under five years old was 7 per cent and those above five years was 4.8 per cent.

Dr Ofusu was speaking at the district launch of the Africa Malaria Day under the theme: "A Malaria Free Future: Children to Children to Role Back Malaria" at Bowiri-Kwamekrom.

He noted that: "Malaria is a burden on the whole family and the society at large since it reduces productivity and it should therefore to be recognised as a development issue".

Dr Ofosu, therefore, called on the people to ensure a clean environment and the use of Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets among other measures to prevent the breeding and bites of mosquitoes.

He announced that government had subsidized the cost of the net by 40,000 cedis for pregnant women and asked them to acquire the facility.

Mr Solomon Kwame Donkor, Jasikan District Chief Executive (DCE), in a speech read on his behalf said though malaria was deadly, it was preventable and curable and urged the people to adhere strictly to basic preventable measures and also to seek prompt medical care when attacked by the disease.

Nana Sike, Chief of Bowiri-Kwamekrom, thanked the government for providing the town with a Health Centre but appealed to the authorities to upgrade it to a Hospital in view of the increasing population of the area.